No rust and maintenance-free? German brand Igus reveals plastic urban bikes made entirely of recycled materials. And they’ll be available for preorder by the end of the year.
An all-plastic bike? Isn’t plastic the problem these days? Igus seeks to utilize and revive the growing mounds of plastic waste worldwide by turning them into all-plastic bikes.
“The plastic in dumps worldwide is becoming a valuable resource,” explained Frank Blase, Igus CEO and the brains behind the bike.
While renting bikes for his family during a beach vacation, Blase learned beach cruisers can require lots of maintenance and don’t have much longevity. This is because of their continuous exposure to sand, salt water, and the sun.
Plastic is Blase’s realm of expertise. Therefore, he identified the opportunity to create a bike to keep waste out of landfills and oceans by using waste materials.
“As all components are made of plastic, no part of the bike rusts, even the gears,” said Blase. Plastic bike gears have long been unthinkable, but not anymore — all thanks to Igus innovation.
“Lightweight, lubrication-free high-performance plastics are used in all parts of the bicycle, from two-component ball bearings in the wheel bearings to plain bearings in the seat post, brake levers, and pedals,” explained Blase.
“All of these components have integrated solid lubricants and ensure low-friction dry operation, without a single drop of lubricating oil. [So that] sand, dust, and dirt cannot accumulate.”
What Will the Plastic Bike Cost?
Prices start at €1,400 ($1,501) for bikes made entirely from recycled material.
Preorder opportunities are open for buyers in the Netherlands and Germany now. And Igus aims to open more locations as it continues to source raw materials from landfills and set up more facilities for manufacturing.
